Portuguese 7.5 Ammo & Loose Projectiles

I've got two rifles that fire 7.5 French. One is an MAS 36/51, the other is a MAS 49. My gun shop carried (until I bought it all) new production Portuguese 7.5. This stuff shoots fine in my bolt 36/51, but each cartridge gets a little bit bloated near the rim after I shoot it. When I bought my '49, I cleaned it up well and took out the firing pin. I then cycled a few rounds through it manually to make sure it functioned properly. Everything went well. However, when I was putting my ammo back two rounds lost their projectiles - they just fell out. Further, my '49 only cycles the first five or so rounds when I use this stuff.

So, do you think the ammo is the cause of my rifle not cycling properly? Anyone had similair problems?

My first response to bulging cases is to suspect the headspacing in your bolt rifle. I can't see why bullets would be pulled unless the OAL is too long for your 49/56's chamber and they are jamming in the lands and being pulled from the cases when you eject the round. I would definitely check the headspace in both rifles and the OAL of the ammo before I shot any more. On second thought, I'm not sure that I would shoot any more of that ammo anyhow.

Just my opinion.

Crownvicman

November 11, 2003, 01:12 PM

This same thing has happened to me with portuguese 7.5 swiss ammo in my k-31. It think it may be poor quality control on the ammo.